The University of Ghana (UG) Medical School has held a white coat ceremony to transit 280 students from the study of pre-clinical to clinical studies in various health institutions in the country.
The ceremony involves a formal robing of students in a doctor’s traditional wear – the white coat.
The students, who are currently in Level 400, will graduate in 2027.
Significance
The Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council, Dr Divine Banyubala, who was the guest speaker, described the event as necessary since it imbibed in the student doctors and dentists the virtues of integrity, confidentiality, love and compassion needed for the work.
“As each of you walks across this stage today, you begin your journey in medicine and dentistry, inspired by the wisdom of Sir William Osler, who declared that the practice of medicine is an art, not a trade; a calling, not a business.
“You, as medical and dental students, bind yourselves to the same professional commitments that bind all physicians and dental surgeons,” he added.
Dr Banyubala also said that the ceremony joined the students with the time-honoured virtues of altruism, responsibility, duty, honour, respect for human dignity and compassion, symbolised by the white coat.
“You put on the white coat today, which is not just a garment in our professional space but a symbol of the sacred trust that you, as stewards of human health, have accepted.
“You make your white coat important to patient care, as it represents the trust and responsibility that you have undertaken.
“Patients favour physicians and dental surgeons who wear the white coat, as studies have shown,” he added.
Opportunities
The Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Development (ORID) at UG, Prof. Felix Ankomah Asante, also urged the transiting students to turn every challenge they face into opportunities to help make the world a better place.
“Also to faculty, we in management, we know all the challenges you are going through and I am also hoping that you can turn the challenges into opportunities,” he said.
Dr Asante further advised the students to take advantage of their clinical period to develop their skills to excel in the medical profession.
“Taking time to develop your skills will ensure that you become a doctor or dentist who is morally useful to the community,” he added.
ALSO READ: